Submerged well drilling equipment anchoring means



Feb. 23, 1954 1 SHANNON 2,669,846

SUEMERGED WEEE DRILLING EQUIPMENT ANCEORING MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1949 I Il! LJ -39 ATTI] RNEIYS J. SHANNON Feb. 23, 1954 SUBMERGED WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT ANCHORING MEANS Filed Aug. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENOR.

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ATTE RN E'YS Patented Feb. 23, 1954 yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBMERGED WELL DRILLVING EQUIPMENT NCHORING MEANS Joseph Shannon, Beaumont, Tex. Application August 23, 1949, Serial No. 111,857 (o1. `s1-ici 1 Claim.

This invention relates to well drilling equipment for `drilin'g wells underwater, and particularly in shallow water, and in particular the invention relates to improved anchoring means in which means is provided for retaining a suf cient quantity of dirt or the Vlike above a well drilling dredge position in a cavity in the ground below water level so that a caisson extended upwardly from ythe dredge .is capable of Wthstanding extreme wind pressures on a derrick carried by the upper "end of the caisson.

The purpose of this invention, is therefore, `to reinforce the usual anchoring `means `of submerged well drilling equipment whereby a derrick suspended on a caisson extended upwardly from the equipment may be retained in a verti- 'cal position.

-In the type of well drilling equipment where drilling machinery is incorporated in an lenclosed. barge buried in the ground below the water level it is desired to suspend the usual well derrick above the equipment and with the lower end oi the derrick above the water level. A derrick is comparatively heavy equipment and wind pressure against the sides thereof causes over-bal anced loads in the supporting means. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates means ior building up and retaining a sufficient quantity of dirt, sand or the like around a caisson extended upwardly from a well drilling equipment barge submerged and positioned in the ground below the water level whereby considerable weight is placed upon the barge and a caisson extended upwardly therefrom is supported laterally.

The object of this invention is to provide temporary means for arresting and retaining a comparatively large quantity of ground, sand, or the like on a barge buried below the water level so that a derrick mounted on the upper end of a caisson extended upwardly from the barge is sufficiently supported to compensate for wind pressure and other atmospheric conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dirt arresting jacket for temporarily banking dirt and the like on a well drilling barge submerged in the water which may or may not be used as may be desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an upwardly extended shell on a well drilling barge for retaining dirt to provide weight on the barge in which doors are provided in the shell to facilitate removing dirt therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dirt retaining casing positioned on a submerged 2 well drilling barge which nomi'cal construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a continuous wall `extended upwardly from the periphery of a well drilling `barge with openings having closures therefor extended through the `wall and with the upper edge `of the wall sloping inwardly to provide sand `or dirt retaining means.

Other features vand `advantages -of the :invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the .drawings wherein:

Figure l is .a vertical section through la submerged well ydrilling barge with a .dirt retaining casing extended upwardly from the barge rand positioned around a `caisson mounted `on and extended upwardly from the barge.

4Figure 2 is a `ser-.tional Vplan through the dirt retaining casing taken on line .2e- .2 Iof Figure l.

Referring now -to the drawings wherein .like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved method for anchoring drilling machines in shallow water of this invention includes a continuous sheet metal Wall I0 having an inwardly sloping upper edge II and having openings I2 covered by closures I3 positioned around the lower part thereof and through which dirt, as indicated by the numeral I4, may be Washed from the shell or casing when it is desired to remove the barge or other well drilling equipment.

The Wall I 0 is positioned on a barge I5 in which well drilling equipment may be housed and the barge is provided with a base I6 and a sloping cover I1 which is inclined to facilitate washing dirt and the like through the openings in the wall.

A caisson I8 extends upwardly from the barge I5 and the upper end of the caisson is provided with a platform I 9 upon which a derrick 20 is mounted as shown.

The caisson I8 is is of a simple and ecoprovided with connections 2| through which dirt and the like is washed from the caisson by mud pumps or the like.

The base I6 of the barge is provided with an opening 22 that is positioned in the lower end of the caisson and a door 23 provides a closure for the opening. The door 23 is attached to the base by a hinge 24 and a latch 25 is provided for retaining the door in the closed or sealed position.

The caisson I8 is also provided with a side opening 26 having a closure 21 partments to provide interior of and pressure com#A 28 and 29 are provided in the barge a communicating passage betweensthe i the caisson and the interior ofiltl'iev barge. An opening 39 with a closure 3| is provided between the compartments 2B and 29 and an opening 32 with a closure 33 is provided in the outer end of the compartment 29. The compartments 28 and 29 are provided with pipes 34 and 35 through Which air or the like is supplied to the compartments.

An opening having the level lower surface 3S is .first formed in the ground below the water level and the barge is lowered into this opening. The wall I is then positioned on the barge and dirt and the like is supplied to the area within the wall.

The weight of dirt or the'like Within the wall retains the barge in the lower position in the cavity below the sea level and the well drilling equipment may be operated through the caisson in the usual manner. After the Well is completed the closures i3 are removed and the dirt i4 is washed from the area within the wall.

The upper end of the well may be capped and enclosed within a seal or concrete housing, as indicated by the numeral 31 and as shown in detail in my co-pending application with the Serial Number 75,187. The casing 31 may be provided with a metal cover 38 and the well casing 39 extends downwardly from the casing.

The wall l0 is illustrated as tting on the outer edge of the barge l5 and the upper edge extends to a point slightly below the water level. It will be understood, however, that the dirt retaining shell or casingmay be of any suitable size and may extend upward to any suitable point.

With the barge held downwardly by the weight of dirt in the wall and with the caisson held laterally by the dirt banked therearound, a comparatively large derrick may be carried by the upper end of the caisson and positively secured in a vertical position.

It will be understood that other modifications Y discharge of ballast therethrough arranged adjacent said deck, closures for said openings. a vertically disposed caisson extending upwardly from said base and through said deck, a platform mounted on the upper end of said caisson for supporting a derrick, there being an opening in said base directly below said caisson, a door mounted for movement into and out of clos# ing relation With respect to said last named opening, a latch for retaining said door in closed position, there being an opening in said caisson adjacent the lower end thereof, a pair of pressure compartments arranged in said barge below said deck, and pipes for supplying compressed air to said compartments.

JOSEPH SHANNON.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 480,127 ORourke Aug. 2, 1892 621,216 Buchtel Mar. 14, 1899 676,993 McFadden June 25, 1901 694,939 Blagburn Mar. 1l, 1902 2,051,926 Weiner Aug. 25, 1936 2,534,480 Shannon Dec. 19, 1950 2,589,153 Smith Mar. 11, 1952 

